Kenny clamp

ABSTRACT

A grounding electrode conductor bonded to the metallic surface of a panel board by a press sleeve connector mounted on said panel board. A clamp is used to contact and secure the conductor to the connector. Both grounding electrode conductor and connector are in conformance with the 1996 National Electrical Code.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention pertains to a clamp, described as a “Kenny Clamp” whosefunction it is to bond the grounding electrode conductor to theenclosure of an electric service box, an auxiliary gutter or otherrelated service equipment in accordance with the requirements of the1996 National Electric Code and is particularly useful in householdwiring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically the grounding electrode conductor is fastened to a water pipeor made electrode and extends through an outlet in a service box whereit is fastened to a bus bar with a screw.

Exemplary pf prior art ground connectors are as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,381 teaches a device for bonding an electric groundwire to an electric outlet or switch box. This apparatus employs agrounding coupling or wedge wherein the electric wire to be connected tothe box is placed in a groove and a stud screwed down upon it. A pinhaving contact with the ground wire also makes contact with the electricoutlet box.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,128 teaches a coupling nut provided with a terminalconnector for use in grounding equipment (not specified). The problemthat was solved encompassed making the coupling nuts accessible.Heretofore the coupling nut was attached to the terminal in such a waythat after it was in place, the terminal connector was inaccessible orvery difficult to access. In the invention the coupling nut iscylindrical, has internal threads for threading to a conduit thatprojects into a service box. A terminal is mounted outside the fittingand has an opening through which a ground wire from equipment within thebox can enter either way, and then a set screw is placed down on thewire either radially or axially.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,843 teaches an electric connector for attaching awaterproof jacketed armored cable to a junction box. The cable isrigidly gripped by the connector, which comprises a resilient grommetsurrounding the jacket which is compressed between two threaded members.Stirrups straddle the inner and outer surfaces of the grommet at one endand contact both an exposed metal part of the cable and the connector toprovide electric grounding. The connector is also provided with asection extending from the gripping surfaces to thread into the junctionbox.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,791 shows a spring biased connector for electricallybonding a device to a supporting wall. A flanged bushing is threadedinto a push button housing mounted on a metal wall. A serrated spring islocated between the flange of the bushing and the metal wall so thatwhen the threaded fastener engages the bushing the spring is deflectedinto the wall and completes an electric circuit. This type ofarrangement obviates use of a ground connection wire.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,860 teaches a plug and receptacle connector that isto be used on the control box of a machine tool, etc. An earth lug whenmounted in an insulator causes a spring piece of the lug to pierce intoa chromate film on a galvanized layer of a receptacle shell resulting inconductivity.

As can be seen there are a number of ways of making ground connections;however, none of the above cited grounded connections would satisfy the1996 National Electrical Code, (hereinafter referred to as Code) whichstipulates that a grounding electrode conductor entering a panel board,must be bonded to a metallic surface and must be connected to agrounding electrode, for example a metal water pipe or a metal roddriven into earth. None of the devices mentioned in the above citedpatents show such an arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,381 bonds anelectric ground wire to a metallic box but shows no connection to agrounding electrode. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,843 shows electricalgrounding of metal surface of a cable to an electrical junction box. In4,496,791 there are features such as the spring jumper that might belikened to a grounding electrode conductor and the conductive wall mightbe a grounding electrode; however there is an additional element such asthe push button considered to be a grounding conductor. Additionally theconductive wall would not satisfy the code as a ground electrode. Asdefined in the Code, “Grounding Conductor” is a conductor used toconnect equipment or the grounded circuit of a wiring system to agrounding electrode or electrodes, that is the push button, mentionedabove is the grounding conductor. The “Grounding Electrode Conductor” isthe conductor used to connect the grounding electrode to the equipmentgrounding conductor, to the grounded conductor or to both. The groundingelectrode conductor as defined herein provides a low impedance path forservice equipment and conductors during fault conditions, short circuitsor ground faults. Under normal conditions electricity seeks to return toits source and complete a continuous circuit. This return path is oftenprovided by white neutral wires that return current to the main servicepanel. A grounding electrode conductor provides an additional returnpath for electrical current. The ground electrode conductor is a safetyfeature. As stated above, it is designed to conduct electricity to itssource, if current seeks to return to the service panel along a pathother than the neutral wire.

Even if the ground wires of the aforesaid patents were to be consideredto be grounding electrode conductors they would not satisfy the Code.The fact is that none of the grounding wires is designed to handle anexcessive amount of fault current, for example in excess of 10,000amperes in domestic households, for an extended period of time. This issignificant for the reason that if there should be a failure in thecircuit and an excessive amount of current is dumped onto this wire, itwould be unable to control the situation.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a groundingelectrode conductor to be connected to a panel board that conforms tothe 1996 National Electrical Code.

It is another object of this invention to use a grounding electrodeconductor that is rated for the available fault current.

It is also another object of this invention to facilitate the securementof the grounding electrode conductor to the panel board by use of asimple clamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front section showing the assembly of a grounding electrodeconductor to a conventional electrical connector in the panel board

FIG. 2 is a front section showing the assembly of the groundingelectrode conductor to the improved electrical connector of theinvention in the panel board.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the improved connector and a mechanism forfastening of the connector to the conductor.

FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of another embodiment showing anotherconnector.

FIG. 4b is a view showing the connector secured to the panel board.

FIG. 5a is an enlarged view of a third embodiment of a connector.

FIG. 5b is a similar view to FIG. 4b showing the third embodimentsecured to the panel board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the grounding electrode conductor 1 conventionallyconnected to a water pipe 2, the grounding electrode, and extending toan inlet 3 of a panel board 4. The conventional connector 5 consists ofadjacent plates 6a, 6b through which conductor 1 passes. These platescontain spaced threaded perforations 7 through which pass screws 8 tosecure the conductor 1 to the plates. One of the plates is welded to abushing 8a that threads into an opening 9 in the panel board. Theconductor 1 terminates in a bus bar 10 where it is secured by screw 11.

FIG. 2 shows the grounding electrode conductor 1 assembled as in FIG. 1except for the improved connector 12. The inlet 13 is now of a size toaccommodate a high press cylindrical sleeve 14, which is either ½ or ¾″and is made of copper or aluminum. For a ½″ sleeve a #8 through #2 barecopper conductor, or a #6 through #1 bare aluminum would be used. For a¾″ sleeve, a #1 through 3/0 bare copper/aluminum conductor, or a #1through 4/0 bare aluminum would be used. The portion of the sleeve thatenters the panel board is threaded and secured therto thereto by a locknut 15. The conductor passes through the sleeve and as in FIG. 2 ends inthe bus bar 10 within the panel board, where it is secured by the screw11. The conductor 1 is clamped in the sleeve by crimping the sleeve asshown at 12a. As shown in In FIG. 3, a long handled plier 16 having arms16a, wherein one arm has a projecting tooth 17a and the other arm has acorresponding groove 17b. The plier grasps the sleeve at severalpositions on its outer surface to compress the sleeve around theconductor. A second method shown in FIG. 4 involves shaping the sleeveas a funnel 18 wherein the narrow portion of the funnel is slit into twolegs 19 which are threaded the length of the funnel. Beyond the funnelthere is a cylindrical threaded extension 20 that is fastened to thepanel board and secured by a lock nut 21 adjacent the interior of thepanel board. A threaded ring 22, having a diameter corresponding to thediameter of the narrow portion of the funnel, is slipped over the legs.As it is turned upward, it compresses the legs around the conductor. Aflange 23 on the extension adjacent the exterior surface of the panelboard limits the movement of the ring. While this is the preferreddevice used to clamp the conductor, a slight modification is shown inFIG. 5a. The narrow portion of the funnel is divided into four legs.This modification is more appropriate where the grounding electrodeconductor is of a larger diameter. In any case whichever device is used,both the conductor and sleeve are rated for fault current.

The bonding circuit created between the grounding electrode conductor,its associated clamp and the grounding electrode is superior to any ofthe assemblies aforementioned including that shown in FIG. 1. Bondingmeans joining all metal parts of the wiring system such as the panelboard or other enclosures. It ensures having good, continuous metallicconnections throughout the grounding system. While U.S. Pat. No.4,496,791 discusses bonding according to the National Electric Code of1981, the spring member therein that completes the bond is made ofcarbon steel, whereas the grounding electrode conductor and theassociated clamp of this invention is made of aluminum or copper whichare the acceptable materials of the National Electric Code of 1996;moreover the connector of U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,791 is for a pushbuttonswitch and would not be suitable for household wiring or commercialwiring. Similarly the clamp of FIG. 1 is of nondescript material,different than the copper material of the grounding electrode conductor.Thus in the event of a ground fault condition, the grounding electrodeconductor could bum off because of the dissimilarity of materials.

While the invention has been shown and described in terms of specificembodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifcations and changes can be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A device for bonding a grounding electrode conductor to theenclosure of an electric service box in conformance to the NationalElectric Code comprising: a) a grounding electrode having a groundingelectrode conductor affixed thereto, said conductor extending from saidgrounding electrode to said enclosure, b) said enclosure having an inletto which a metal press sleeve connector can be affixed, said connectorhaving a top and bottom with an aperture thereat for receiving saidconductor, said top of said connector being threaded and secured to saidinlet by a lock nut, said conductor having an end that passes throughsaid aperture in said top and being fastened to a bus bar in saidenclosure, c) compression means for clamping and securing said groundingelectrode conductor to said metal press sleeve in electrical contact atthe region of clamping, d) said sleeve being in the form of a funnelhaving a lower, bifurcated, narrow end and a wider upper end having acylindrical extension that threads into said inlet said enclosure, saidfunnel having a threaded exterior surface and said compression meansincludes a threaded ring having an internal diameter that corresponds tothat of said narrow bifurcated end, said ring being rotated so as tocompress said bifurcated end of said funnel around said conductor, e)said press sleeve and said grounding electrode conductor being rated foravailable fault current.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein saidconnector and said conductor are made of aluminum.
 3. A device as inclaim 1 wherein said connector and said conductor are made of copper. 4.A device as in claim 1 wherein said lower end of said funnel is dividedinto four legs.
 5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said connector andsaid conductor are adapted for a household or commercial wiring system.6. A device as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has a diameter of ½″ or ¾″and said conductor has a dimension within the range of #8-#2 for a ½″sleeve and within the range of #1-3/0 for a ¾″ sleeve.
 7. A device forbonding a grounding electrode conductor to the enclosure of an electricservice box in conformance to the National Electric Code comprising: a)A grounding electrode having a grounding electrode conductor affixedthere to, said conductor extending from said grounding electrode to saidenclosure, b) said enclosure having an inlet to which a metal presssleeve connector can be affixed, said connector having a top and bottomwith an aperture there at for receiving said conductor, said top of saidconnector being threaded and secured to said inlet by a locked nut, saidconductor having an end that passes through said aperture in said topand being fastened to a bus bar in said enclosure, c) compression meansfor clamping and securing said grounding electrode conductor to saidmetal press sleeve in electrical contact at the region of clamping, d)said sleeve being substantially in the form of a cylinder having anextension that threads into said inlet of said enclosure, said cylinderhaving spaced indents, said compression means includes a long handledplier havng one toothed arm and another arm having a correspondinggroove, said plier grasping said sleeve at said spaced indents tocompress said sleeve, e) said press sleeve and said grounding electrodeconductor being rated for available fault current.
 8. A device as inclaim 7 wherein said connector and said conductor are made from a metalselected from copper and aluminum.
 9. A device as in claim 7 whereinsaid connector and said conductor are adapted for a household orcommercial wiring system.
 10. A device as in claim 7 wherein said sleevehas a diameter of {fraction (1/2)}″ or {fraction (3/4)}″, said conductorhas a dimension within the range of #8-#2 for a {fraction (1/2)}″ sleeveand within the range of #1- 3/0 for a {fraction (3/4)}″ sleeve.